By David Watson

Benchley, October 25, 2020

* The concept of denominations is not present in the New Testament.* Organization: We are not part of any earthly hierarchy.* Ephesians 5:22-24* Church in the universal sense:* Ephesians 4:4 – There is one body – the group of people saved by Christ.* Matthew 16:16-19* Hebrews 12:22-23* The Bible often describes the church in the universal sense – all those that are saved in Christ.* I Corinthians 16 – This includes dead Christians.* Church in the local sense:* Romans 16:16* I Corinthians 1:2* What’s not in the Bible: denominations* Doctrine: We simply try to study and obey the Bible (not a creed book, statement of beliefs, tradition …)* Matthew 7:21-23* John 17:17-23 – We should be unified on truth – not separated by creeds and traditions.* Ephesians 4:5, 11-14 – Let’s just read the Bible!* Failure to be unified leads to church-shopping to see whose beliefs you like best, rather than searching for truth. We should only be comparing to the Bible, not our own desires.* Identity: We are simply Christians, not a type of Christian.* Romans 6:3* Galatians 3:27* We have no Bible authority to identify ourselves as any type of Christian.* I Corinthians 1:10 – Paul tried to stop this sort of division.